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Photo of the Day: March 2019
- Thread starter oblomow
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I don't think it's a particularly new concept. In fact, newer, electronic lenses make it more difficult, if not impossible, to do since you need a lens where you can keep the aperture open when the lens is off camera. There are a lot of people who do amazing things while freelensing with the Velvet 56, but I've only tried a couple of times, so there's a big learning curve. I think most people use a cheapy 50mm and some even break them to keep the aperture open. My 85mm has an aperture ring but I only recently figured out how to unlock it.
You can do just fine with an iPhone. I took this shot with my XS a couple of weeks ago from one of the office windows.
Yes of course a proper camera is better, but many people take exceptional phone camera images.
Also the point of this thread is to encourage sharing of any type of photography. No one should feel their gear is holding them back from sharing on this thread.
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I've been doing photography for many, many years (some years more intensely than others) and yet this is the first time I've heard of "freelensing". I've heard of and tried things such as swinging the camera or moving it up-and-down while making an exposure -- and other interesting ways to get a creative image, though. I can see how this "freelensing" thing would work better with older lenses that are less dependent on electronics. In the old days sometimes people reversed lenses, too, to achieve certain effects. I've got a few real oldies, maybe one day I'll experiment....
I have been trying to find the history of it. It's also called lens whacking, which I've never heard until today. I think it must have come about with the advent of digital cameras since there is no film to ruin with light leaks, but I have found references going back to 2010, so while new in the realm of all of photography, it isn't new from last year.
I had no idea, so I was interested to know also.
I have been trying to find the history of it. It's also called lens whacking, which I've never heard until today. I think it must have come about with the advent of digital cameras since there is no film to ruin with light leaks, but I have found references going back to 2010, so while new in the realm of all of photography, it isn't new from last year.
I had no idea, so I was interested to know also.
Thanks! I've also never heard the term "lens whacking," either..... Yes, it makes sense that this would have begun only after the emergence and growing popularity of digital photography, as it wouldn't be possible with film cameras. My first venture into digital photography was with the first Nikon Coolpix, and for quite a while I used it in conjunction with my Nikon SLR as I didn't quite trust this digital thing...... LOL! Eventually went through a few more Coolpixes and then in 2005 purchased my first DSLR, the Nikon D70. I had already been participating in Usenet groups and also Digital Preview (DPR) and then in May of 2005 learned about a new site called NikonCafe, which I joined..... There were several of us who all joined around the same time period, the same week, even, as someone we knew from the other two sites began talking about the Cafe, which sounded appealing. Although over the years there have been various changes I'm still there today!
. Anyway, 2010 sounds about right for people to begin experimenting with new and different techniques, as by then digital photography had begun coming into its own and the cameras and lenses were significantly more advanced than the first generation or two were, and we all were far more comfortable with the technology than we had been in the beginning. Once someone is very familiar with something that is often when they start experimenting to see what else they can do. 2009 or 2010 sounds about right in terms of people starting to move beyond the standard ways of doing things with their digital cameras and lenses. That may also be about the time frame that the idea of swinging the camera around while making the exposure came along, too.
I don't think the picture did the subject justice.
The lighting was stunning. Although I have some beautiful photos of the interior, they are nowhere near as stunning as the place itself. One of those images you just can’t quite capture. I guess some of it is atmosphere that you don’t get with a photo.I like the iridescent look, even though they are probably just reflections.
Sagrada Família is well worth the visit if you ever find yourself in Barcelona.
I have lots more to share!
This conversation that Molly and I've been having about "freelensing" / "lens whacking" and experimentation reminded me that one spring (spring of 2013, as it turns out) I had done some experimenting with "super-macro," with just a very narrow and shallow DOF. I did it by attaching one or two extension tubes on to one of my macro lenses to see what would happen..... After rummaging around in my Zenfolio gallery for a while I finally found one of the images I vaguely remembered, so here it is:
Nice. I nearly always regret getting those extension tubes out. I struggle with the narrow DoF but you’ve nailed it.
Thanks, AFB! If I remember correctly I had a lot more deleted images than actual successes! I think I used the light tent for non-glare, soft yet sufficient lighting and had the camera with lens and extension tube(s) on the tripod, the dining table and dining area being my "studio". Trying to nail the focus on just those stamen or pistils or whatever they're called while having everything else -- the flower petals -- simply a creamy, smooth bokeh filling the frame took some doing!
Ceiling in the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts in Pittsburgh, PA
IMG_1258 by Lance Randall, on Flickr
Taking w/iPhone 8
IMG_1258 by Lance Randall, on FlickrTaking w/iPhone 8
True. You can see the joy on its face.
Just a minor critique: scrolling down this thread this first thing I saw a horizon that was not level. You can fix that or just crop it out.
